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Chloe - who is yet to confirm the relationship - has previously hinted at a developing romance with Abz in a series of Instagram posts.

Updating her account on July 4, the reality star shared a snap of the pair after Abz paid a visit to her Essex beauty salon, during which she treated him to a mud mask.

Close: Chloe - who is yet to confirm the relationship - has hinted at a developing romance with Abz in a series of Instagram posts

In another Chloe posted a cryptic snap of two intertwined hands - with fans immediately identifying the male hand as belonging to tattoo lover Abz because of its distinctive inkings.

Captioning the image, she wrote: 'Bad boy? You choose. Holding hands and tattoos.'

Taking to Instagram on Monday, Chloe shared an image of Abz - who recently lived on a Welsh farm - posing with a ferret during a visit to a country fair.

'The things you'll do for that special someone,' she wrote alongside the snap.

That looks familiar: In another Chloe shared a cryptic snap of two intertwined hands - with fans immediately identifying the male hand as belonging to tattoo lover Abz because of its distinctive inkings

The former pop star has also used his social media presence to hint at a romance with Chloe by sharing another shot from his visit to her salon.

A selfie shared with Instagram followers two days later captured Abz and a female friend, with Chloe lingering in the background.

The post prompted furious speculation from followers, with one commenting: 'Abz congratulations I wish u all the best !! ... if anyone deserves to be happy it's u abz.'

Another added: 'It's a deffo then.'

Away from social media the couple made a low-key public appearance at the British Style Collective 2017 in Liverpool, where they posed for photos with fans.

Familiar face: A selfie shared by Abz captured the former pop star and a female friend, with Chloe lingering in the background

Telling: Chloe also posted a shot pf Abz posing with a ferret while referring to the singer as 'someone special'

While Chloe's representative declined to comment, Abz' spokesperson told MailOnline: 'They have been spending a lot of time together recently.'

The Only Way Is Essex star has previously dated co-stars Jon Clark, Liam ‘Gatsby’ Blackwell and Elliot Wright – who later claimed their relationship ‘wasn’t 100 percent genuine.’

More recently she was romantically linked with 56-year old entrepreneur and securities dealer Robert Tchenguiz – whose net worth is estimated at £850 million – after they were pictured together at the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival in 2016.

Despite their apparent closeness, Chloe later insisted her relationship with the millionaire was strictly platonic.

She told Closer: ‘'My friend Robert invited me out because he goes every year. I'd love to back , but I'm still struggling with a hangover... I was out till the early hours each morning.

Public debut: The pair were seen together at the British Style Collective 2017 in July

Say cheese: The pair posed for photos with fans during their appearance at the Liverpool event

'I had the time of my life. It was so glamorous and I partied loads! I met Leonardo DiCaprio and I was so star-struck... He was really friendly and polite.'

Meanwhile Abz has suffered his fair share of difficulties since splitting with 5ive in 2001.

Following a short-lived solo career the singer fell out of the limelight and has previously been open about his struggles with drug and alcohol abuse.

His long-term relationship with his former manager Vicky Fallon, 32, came to an acrimonious end in February, with Abz accusing her of making extra money by signing up as a high-end escort.

She later dismissed his claims, telling The Sun: 'The truth is this, I was finished with Abz in November, he wormed his way back into my life… back emotionally abusing me and I’d had enough, eight years of that, I just had enough.'

Previously: Abz (front) is best known as a member of defunct boy-band 5ive (the group are pictured here in 1998)